College Basketball Bracketology

With under a month left until Selection Sunday, and the Bracket Preview from the Selection Committee, I decided to create my own Bracketology for your (and my) convenience.

So, what went into this bad boy? Well, I can tell you that a lot of it came from my knowledge of teams from following them all season long. And if I needed a tiebreaker down the stretch because I wasn’t sure of where to place a team, I would go to RPI, which is something the Selection Committee will do as well based on what we saw with their Bracket Preview.

All of these thoughts are my own. I understand who was in one of the top-four seeds in the Bracket Preview, but I didn’t base anything off of that. I also didn’t look off of anyone else’s Bracketology for assistance, so feel free to compare and sound off as to whether you agree or disagree.

Without further ado, with one month until the NCAA Tournament, check out our Bracketology below!

South Top Four

East Top Four

Villanova

Purdue

Duke

Rhode Island

West Top Four

Xavier

Cincinnati

Ohio State

Kansas

Midwest Top Four

Michigan State

Texas Tech

Clemson

Tennessee

Surprising Placements

Oklahoma- The Selection Committee saw this team as a four-seed. Considering what’s transpired recently, I don’t see the Sooners as one of the best sixteen teams in the country. Oklahoma does have the best offensive team in the country considering they have one of the better players in Trae Young, but OU is also one of the worst in points allowed. They currently rank #21 in RPI and are 2-6 in their last eight games. As many strong victories they currently possess, they have an equal number of questionable losses. That’s the case of the Big 12 this year.

Kansas- Four of their losses are at home, which is unheard of at Allen Fieldhouse. This season is also the first time in a long time where Kansas hasn’t been the runaway favorite (or perhaps even a favorite) to win the Big 12. Sure, they currently hold the #10 spot in RPI, but what’s there for them besides that? Their strength of schedule? Having them at four might be pushing it, but I disagree 100% with the Committee’s placement of them at a two-seed.

Michigan State- The head-to-head victory over Purdue speaks for itself at the moment.

Rhode Island- This team is #5 in the RPI. Who cares if they’re out of the A-10? Rhode Island is also undefeated at home, with a perfect 13-0 record. (Home wins are still crucial according to the Selection Committee.) Possible NCAA Tournament teams in Seton Hall, Providence, Saint Bonaventure, Charleston, UNC Asheville, and Florida Gulf Coast have all fallen victim to the Rams, who also have one of the longest win streaks in the nation at fifteen games. Last but not least, I am of the belief that if they were to go up against Nevada and Alabama again, they would mop the floor with those teams. A four-seed is perfect for them at the moment.

Middle Tennessee- Two years ago, Middle Tennessee was the team that upset Michigan State as a fifteen-seed. Last year, they defeated Minnesota. This year, it won’t be an upset as they’re even better. The overall stats on the team might not be eye-popping, but Nick King, the transfer from Alabama, has been lighting it up. He currently averages 21.4 PPG and 8.2 APG. You also can’t forget about Giddy Potts as he’s played a HUGE role in the previous two years Middle Tennessee has been in the Tournament.

New Mexico State- The biggest thing the Aggies have going for them is a victory over Miami on Christmas Day out in Hawaii. And aside from a silly loss to San Diego, this team is the complete package of a team that can provide an upset in the NCAA Tournament. Last week, I ranked them at #24 in the NCAAB Power Rankings, and if they were only to lose one more time this season and that comes in the finals of the WAC Tournament, I think New Mexico State finds a way to sneak in.

Temple- I might be jumping the gun with Temple as the Owls currently have ten losses on the season, including a couple to La Salle and George Washington, but they have a very strong RPI to out themselves as a ten-seed in our Bracketology. The Selection Committee will probably want more out of Temple before the end of the season, but this is a dangerous team, and it is clear to see when you watch them play.

Best First Round Matchups

8 Creighton vs. 9 TCU

6 Miami (FL) vs. 11 Arkansas

5 Wichita State vs. 12 Providence/Washington

6 Oklahoma vs. 11 Butler

3 Duke vs. 14 Buffalo

8 Kentucky vs. 9 Houston

5 West Virginia vs. 12 East Tennessee State

7 Middle Tennessee vs. 10 Seton Hall

Final Four

It’s straightforward. Based off of the current bracket that I have, my Final Four is Virginia, Ohio State, Purdue, and Clemson with Purdue beating Virginia to win the whole thing. Bold, right? That’s how I roll.

What did you think of our Bracketology? Where was your favorite team seeded? Were the seedings correct? How does it compare to what the Selection Committee had? Be sure to tell us about it in the comment section below. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter: @PowerRank_More, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on our Instagram page for all of the latest information from Power Rankings and More.

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